A full list of award and scholarship recipients appears below.

Academic Achievement Award Recipients

Academic Excellence Award in Accounting
Kirsten Myburg
Allie Rosinger

This award is given to a senior Accounting major who has demonstrated superior academic achievement, provided significant contributions to the department, and possesses potential for intellectual growth.

Challenge and Expect Award in Accounting
Kate Rohan
Zachary Taylor

This award is presented to a senior Accounting major who has demonstrated excellent growth in academic achievement and in contributions to the department.

Earl D. Honeycutt, Jr. Sales Leadership Award
Alex Scheinler

This award recognizes a senior majoring in marketing or minoring in professional sales who has shown leadership in the sales program, has the potential to positively impact their future organization, and has demonstrated an overall positive attitude in supporting their fellow sales students.

Excellence in Financial Education Student Award
Justin Betts
Andrew Glas
Em Orendorff

This award is given to a senior finance major who has demonstrated excellent academic achievement and possesses potential for professional growth in financial services.

Goldstein Family Award
Maggie Blakeney

This award is for a graduating senior who, after transferring to Elon (and the LSB) earlier in their academic career, has established a record of sustained engagement and high academic success and who embodies the university’s engaged learning focus through participation in high-impact learning activities.

Walter Hattenbach Award
Kaila Burke

The senior marketing major with the highest GPA receives this award, which Dr. and Mrs. James W. Johnston established in honor of their friend, Walter Hattenbach.

John Kappas Economics Award
Quinn Faller

This award goes to the senior economics major who best demonstrates enthusiasm for economics, potential for leadership and classroom excellence. It is named in honor of the late John Kappas, a 1985 Elon graduate.

Love School of Business Academic Excellence Award
Greta Hessenthaler
Kirsten Myburg
Katrina Papierman
Anthony Vozella

This award is presented to the student with the highest GPA among those graduating with a major in the Martha and Spencer Love School of Business.

Love School of Business Courageous Leadership Award
Noah Biggers

This award is given to a student who exemplifies courageous leadership within and outside of the Love School of Business.

Love School of Business Responsible Leadership Award
William Foster

This award is given to a student who exemplifies leadership, service and academic achievement within the Love School of Business.

Perseverance Award in Accounting
Ben Lyons

This award is presented to a graduating accounting senior whose resilience and commitment led to significant improvement while successfully navigating the rigors of the four-year curriculum.

Student Achievement in Business Analytics Award
Greta Hessenthaler

This award is given to a senior business analytics major who has shown enthusiasm and success in his or her courses as well as promise for future achievement.

Student Achievement in Economics Award
Jin Kobes
Daisy Martinez-Jimenez

This award is given to a senior economics major who has shown enthusiasm and success in his or her courses as well as promise for future achievement.

Student Achievement in Economic Consulting Award
Sivan Danziger

This award is given to a senior economic consulting major who has shown enthusiasm and success in his or her courses as well as promise for future achievement.

Student Achievement in Entrepreneurship & Innovation Award
Juan Daniel Chiriboga
Taylor Sluss

This award is given to a senior entrepreneurship & innovation major who has shown enthusiasm and success in his or her major as well as promise for future achievement.

Student Achievement in Finance Award
Liam Becker
Emily McAninch
Asa Traylor

This award is given to a senior finance major who has shown enthusiasm and success in his or her major as well as promise for future achievement.

Student Achievement in Human Resource Management Award
Maddy Shapiro

This award is given to a senior human resource management major who has shown enthusiasm and success in his or her courses as well as promise for future achievement.

Student Achievement in International Business Award
Melena Hasskerl-Friedrich

This award is given to a senior international business major who has shown enthusiasm and success in his or her major as well as promise for future achievement.

Student Achievement in Marketing Award
Rachel Buckle
Lauren Kulda

This award is given to a senior marketing major who has shown enthusiasm and success in his or her major as well as promise for future achievement.

Student Achievement in Project Management Award
Anna Johnson

This award is given to a senior project management major who has shown enthusiasm and success in his or her major as well as promise for future achievement.

Student Achievement in Supply Chain Management Award
Maylee Clerici

This award is given to a senior supply chain management major who has shown enthusiasm and success in his or her major as well as promise for future achievement.

Martha and Spencer Love School of Business Dean’s Awards for Faculty and Staff

Excellence in Teaching
Jose Cerecedo Lopez

The Martha and Spencer Love School of Business Dean’s Award for Excellence in Teaching recognizes a faculty member who exemplifies the 51±ŹÁÏÍű teacher-scholar model. This person is outstanding in the classroom, engages students in the learning process, maintains academic rigor, and provides evidence of commitment to the intellectual development of students through mentoring and related activities.

Excellence in Scholarship
Feng Dong

The Martha and Spencer Love School of Business Dean’s Award for Excellence in Scholarship recognizes one or more faculty members each year whose scholarly work has a significant intellectual impact in keeping with the Elon scholar-mentor model. Selection factors for this award include publication or presentation of peer-reviewed research in quality outlets and evidence that the faculty member engages in scholarship-related activities. These activities might include supporting the scholarly endeavors of colleagues, advancing the school’s reputation, and mentoring students in undergraduate research.

Exemplary Service – Faculty
John Wimmer

The Martha and Spencer Love School of Business Dean’s Award for Exemplary Service-Faculty recognizes one or more faculty members each year who have contributed in meaningful ways to the ongoing welfare and betterment of the college, university and profession. This award follows from the Elon servant-leadership model. Selection is based on service in the preceding year, plus overall willingness to volunteer one’s time when needed and to carry new ideas to reality.

Exemplary Service – Staff
Sara DeVane

The Martha and Spencer Love School of Business Dean’s Award for Exemplary Service-Staff recognizes a staff member who has contributed in meaningful ways to the ongoing welfare and betterment of the LSB.  This contribution includes performing duties above and beyond the staff member’s regular functions to support and advance the LSB.

Exemplary Service – External
Rob Springer

The Martha and Spencer Love School of Business Dean’s Award for Exemplary Service-Staff recognizes a member of the larger 51±ŹÁÏÍű community who has contributed in meaningful ways to the ongoing welfare and betterment of the LSB.  This contribution can take the form of assisting the LSB with a specific program or project or providing ongoing support for LSB activities.

LSB Sophomore Recognition

Benjamin Grover Johnston Award
Andrew Abraham
Logan Brzezanski
Lindsay Butkus
Izzy Butler
Gabrielle Evans
Addie Gilner
Henry Ginsburg
Dylan Golden
Isabella Johnson
Avery Launer
Jordyne Lewis
Ben Peake
Hope Rosen
Isaiah Scott
Greta Smith
Casey Steinert
Dani Stuart
Ben Waechter
Ellis Weber-Provost
Sophia Winston

This award honors the sophomore(s) with the highest GPA in the Martha and Spencer Love School of Business. Dr. and Mrs. James W. Johnston established this award in memory of Dr. Johnston’s brother, Benjamin Grover Johnston.

2026-27 Endowed Scholarships and Awards

The Andras Family Award
Abigail Mulvaney

The A. Vance Beck, Sr. and Gwendolyn D. Beck Scholarship
Virginia Manning

The Calvert C. and Margaret H. McGregor Scholarship
Maximiliano Camacho Garcia

The Charles David Smith Endowed Scholarship
River Cranford

The David A. Stevens ’81 Internship Scholarship
Chaise Hannibal
Winter Oaster

The David O. Bowden Economics Scholarship
Ellis Weber-Provost

The Department of Economics Endowed Scholarship
Sophia Winston

The Don S. and Margaret M. Holt Scholarship
Ashley Valency
Skylar Zimmerly

The Dudley Ray Watson Memorial Scholarship
Mackenzie Ross

The Frechette Family Foundation Fund for Global Engagement
Madisen Groff
Brennan Higgins

The Frederick K. Gilliam, Sr. Scholarship
Sophia Arminio
Lauren Beckman
Colleen Bolger
Elizabeth Moores
Anna Rubino
Jesse Sherrill

The Humphries Achievement Award
Loren Palma

The J. Harold Smith Scholarship
Jordyne Lewis

The James T. Toney Endowment Fund
Madeline Dolan

The Janie E. Council Scholarship
Patrick Drury

The John and Helene Sparks Scholarship for Business
Dulio Sorel di Donato

The John L. Sills, Jr. Scholarship
Benjamin Peake

The John R. Hill ’76 and Lesley W. Hill Endowed Fund for Engaged Learning in Business
Marlie Barhorst

The Linda Thompson Weavil Endowed Scholarship
Kristen Covington
Jasmine Newkirk

The Mark A. Horsburgh Study Abroad Scholarship
Michael Dumiec
Peyton Jones

The Mary C. Bullock ’47 and George P. Bullock ’47 Business Scholarship
John Cirelli
Jane McNeil
Avery Wilson

The Mills Family Endowed Scholarship
Tristan D’Adamo
Sahrahie Enamorado

The Myers Family Endowed Scholarship in Business
Aidan Roche

The Park Business Scholarship
Alyssa Adams

The Peter L. Tourtellot Endowed Scholarship in Business
Emma Cincotta

The R. Alston Team III Endowed Scholarship in Business
Eli Karpas
Emma Meunier

The R. Cruse Lewis Master Pools Guild/Love School of Business Endowment Scholarship
Gabriela Maldonado Alvarez
Ashlyn Wenner

The Rehnert Family Business Internship Award
Rita Ho
Korey Philpot
Fanyu Sha
Abigail Wong

The Rose Family Endowed Fund for Engaged Learning in Business
Samuel Bernard

The Samuel L. Burke Endowed Scholarship
David Graves
Elizabeth Shum

The Sirabella Family Scholarship for Engaged Learning in Business
Alison Whipple

The Taylor S. Davis Scholarship for Engaged Learning in Business
Anna Maddox

The Troy Family Endowed Scholarship for International Study
Shannon Cross
Jack Miller

The Waesche Engaged Learning Scholarship
Luke Shatkin

The Wells Fargo Scholarship
Jackson Steiner

The William A. Klopman, Jr. Memorial Scholarship
Megan Abbot

The Yearwood Family Scholarship
Bong Realiza

An accomplished business leader whose career spans global technology, consumer brands and corporate turnarounds, Findley accepted the university’s top award for entrepreneurship on April 22 inside LaRose Digital Theatre.

Findley currently serves as president, CEO and director of Sleep Number and has held leadership roles at Alibaba, Etsy and Blue Apron.

51±ŹÁÏÍű President Connie Ledoux Book presented the medal alongside Haya Ajjan, dean of the Martha and Spencer Love School of Business.

The ceremony opened with a video tribute featuring remarks from Book, Ajjan, Elizabeth Caran and Jeffrey Pugh, former Distinguished University Professor and Maude Sharpe Powell Professor of Religious Studies at Elon, both of whom were in attendance.

Caran, Findley’s sister, emphasized her sibling’s commitment to making people feel heard and included. Pugh described Findley as someone who “makes everything better wherever she goes,” guided by both intellect and a strong moral compass.

In her remarks, Findley reflected on what entrepreneurial leadership has come to mean in her own life and career.

“When you told me I was receiving the medal for entrepreneurial leadership, I’ll be honest, I had a moment of pause,” said Findley. “Because when I think about entrepreneurs, I think about founders. People who start companies from scratch. And that’s not my path.”

Instead, Findley said, her career has been defined by stepping into companies in moments of change and choosing to lead with ownership, resilience and a willingness to act before feeling fully ready.

“Entrepreneurial leadership isn’t really about whether you started something,” she said. “It’s about how you show up, the risks you take, the responsibility you assume and how you bring people along with you.”

Findley, who grew up in nearby Greensboro, told students that Elon played a transformative role in helping her see herself and her future differently. She described struggling academically and socially in high school before arriving at Elon, where she found an environment that encouraged exploration, curiosity and growth.

“Elon didn’t just teach me what to learn,” Findley said. “It taught me how to think.”

She credited the university’s interdisciplinary approach, study abroad opportunities and especially a set of religion courses with Pugh for reshaping her perspective.

“Those classes exposed me to such a broad world of ideas, perspectives, modern views on longstanding concepts,” she said. “That changed everything about how I thought of myself and what I could do in the world.”

That openness to possibility would later shape major decisions in her career, including a move to Hong Kong without a job lined up after finding it difficult to break out of communications roles in the United States. The leap eventually led to a role at Alibaba and marked a major turning point in how she thought about risk.

“You don’t wait until you’re ready,” Findley said. “You go. You do. You open yourself up to learning. And that’s what makes you ready.”

Throughout the evening, Findley returned to the idea that leadership is less about titles and more about how people are treated along the way. She said one of the reasons she wanted to become a CEO was her belief that companies can succeed without losing sight of the people who make that success possible.

“Customers and teams matter most, and you could build a successful company while still treating people like humans,” she said.

That people-first approach also shaped how she described her leadership style during a question-and-answer session with students. Rather than entering organizations assuming she has all the answers, Findley said she tries to create the conditions for others to do their best work.

“My assumption is that everyone else in the room knows more than I do,” Findley said, “and my job is to get out of their way and get everything else out of the way so they can do it.”

Students asked Findley about topics ranging from career pivots and leadership style to failure, resilience and decision-making. In response, she emphasized the importance of core values, communication and internal resilience, especially when navigating uncertainty.

“You’re never going to please everyone,” she said. “You’re never going to make everyone happy, and you’re never going to have respect from everyone. But you will get respect for actually making a decision and making a change and taking action when people don’t like it.”

She closed her remarks by offering students three challenges: take one real risk in the next 30 days, put yourself in rooms where you are not the most qualified person, and act like an owner before you ever receive the title.

“Entrepreneurial leadership isn’t about starting companies,” Findley said. “It’s about taking responsibility for outcomes, for people and for your own path.”

51±ŹÁÏÍű the 51±ŹÁÏÍű Medal for Entrepreneurial Leadership

The Elon Medal Award for Entrepreneurial Leadership is co-presented by the Love School of Business and the Doherty Center for Creativity, Innovation and Entrepreneurship. Since 2009, the award has been given to an entrepreneur who is a leader in industry and who exemplifies the values of 51±ŹÁÏÍű. These values include integrity, innovation and creativity, passion for lifelong learning, and a commitment to building a dynamic community.

51±ŹÁÏÍű the Doherty Center for Creativity, Innovation and Entrepreneurship

The Doherty Center for Creativity, Innovation and Entrepreneurship was established by an endowment gift from Ed and Joan Doherty, entrepreneurs from Saddle River, N.J., and parents of Kerry Doherty Gatlin ’07. The Dohertys have served on the university’s Parents Council, and Ed Doherty currently serves as an Elon Trustee. Their company, Doherty Enterprises, Inc., is one of the nation’s leading franchise operators of quality family restaurants, including Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill & Bar, Panera Bread and Chevy’s Fresh Mex.

Twenty Fellows collaborated on developing a U.S. market-entry strategy for Uniwellsity, a European digital wellness company focused on emotional learning and mental well-being. As the project progressed, eight students traveled to Prague to represent the team and deliver the final presentation to the client.

“Throughout the year, I stretched my global business perspective by thinking critically about how a Czech-based company could successfully integrate into the U.S. market,” said Maren Giambanco, a marketing major from Norwood, Mass. “Being able to then fully immerse myself in Czech culture during our visit made the entire experience even more unique and eye-opening.”

Her experience reflects the broader scope of the project, which required students to move beyond theory and into the complexities of entering a highly competitive market.

As the work progressed, teams analyzed positioning, refined strategy and collaborated across time zones to ensure the final deliverable reflected the full group’s efforts.

“Meeting with Czech Founders, a venture capital firm in Prague, was incredibly insightful, especially in understanding how they assess pitch decks and the qualifications that determine which ideas are strong enough to be part of their portfolio,” said Em Orendorff, a finance major from Annapolis, Md. “I also found it interesting learning about how the startup environment in the EU differs from the U.S.”

Those interactions offered additional context for the team’s recommendations and expanded their understanding of global business practices.

“Presenting in Prague made everything feel real,” said Jack Poulos, an economics major from New Albany, Ohio. “It was the first time I could clearly see how the work we do in the classroom translates directly into real-world impact.”

The experience reflected the expectations of a professional consulting environment, where preparation, adaptability and clear communication shaped every stage of the project.

“The presentation wasn’t just the end of two semesters of hard work,” said Jadon Dorsey ’26, an economic consulting major from Charleston, W.Va. “It showed how confidence, teamwork and believing in something can come together to create something meaningful.”

In March and early April, Walls travelled to NEOMA Business School, a partner school for the Martha and Spencer Love School of Business. During the program, she worked with the students to develop skills in data visualization and storytelling using Power BI, helping them translate complex data.

The course emphasized real-world application, allowing students to practice building dashboards, structuring data narratives and presenting findings in a business context.

Walls joined 51±ŹÁÏÍű in the fall of 2024. She teaches courses focused on data-driven decision-making, and her research focuses on social media’s impact on corporate reputation, AI ethics and the evolving role of technology in business.

“I don’t feel like my career trajectory post-graduation is the norm for an MBA graduate,” Dudash said. “I had to do some soul searching and pursued something different that aligns with my values.”

Before enrolling in 51±ŹÁÏÍű’s MBA program, Dudash worked at Duke Regional Hospital as communications manager, serving as the only communicator on site for the entire hospital and supporting more than 2,000 employees.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, she helped support emergency preparedness efforts, including a command center that operated for months, and later supported community vaccination clinics.

“I learned so much throughout that experience,” she said. “I saw the best of the best and the worst of the worst and saw health care workers give their all.”

As the pandemic unfolded, mentors encouraged her to return to school. A nurse manager would ask her regularly, “When are you going back to school?” Dudash also had two mentors who recommended Elon’s MBA program.

“She would say, ‘It’s never a good time to go back to school,’” Dudash said. “They encouraged me to take the step.”

For Dudash, the MBA offered the flexibility to build leadership skills while keeping her options open.

“I can apply it across industries,” she said. “I wanted to strengthen my leadership skills and get a broader view of how organizations operate.”

She started the program in September 2020, a decade after graduating from the University of Florida with a journalism degree. Returning to school felt like a significant transition.

“I remember being nervous,” she said. “I was 10 years out of school and didn’t know how it would feel to be a student again.”

Rather than rushing through, Dudash took one class at a time and completed the program over four years, graduating in May 2024.

“I wanted to fully immerse myself in each course and build relationships with my classmates and professors,” she said.

She also described the program as a place where she could participate fully and grow, especially in courses that challenged students to share ideas and respond to feedback.

“It opened up my confidence in pursuing new ideas,” she said. “Your ideas are valid.”

As graduation approached, Dudash began thinking more intentionally about what kind of work would be fulfilling.

That summer became an opportunity to reflect. Dudash leaned into theater, a longtime passion through improv, including teaching improv comedy and pursuing operations work in the arts nonprofit space.

This past year, she balanced roles between Durham arts nonprofit Mettlesome Theater and nationally recognized DPAC (Durham Performing Arts Center) while also serving as chair of the Meals on Wheels Durham board.

But most recently, she was appointed Mettlesome Theater’s first full-time operations director.

“My Elon MBA gave me the confidence to say, ‘I want to help with this, and I want to pursue this,’” she said. “My dream job was to be an operations director or executive director of an arts nonprofit, and the program gave me the high-level perspective to lead that work.”

The school improved five spots from last year’s No. 38 ranking.

Among the individual components of the 2026 ranking, Elon:

• Improved its career outcomes ranking to 18, up from 24 last year
• Ranked 21 among private universities, up from 24 last year

Additional rankings include:

• Maintained its admissions standards ranking at 54
• Ranked 26 in academic experience

The continued rise reflects the school’s focus on preparing students for meaningful careers through hands-on learning, mentorship, and real-world experiences that lead to strong postgraduate outcomes.

“Our continued rise in the rankings reflects the intentional work behind our programs,” said Haya Ajjan, dean of the Love School of Business. “The strength of our career outcomes is one example of how mentorship, hands-on learning, and strong industry connections are preparing students for meaningful careers.”

Poets&Quants for Undergrads compiles its rankings based on school-reported data and . The considers three primary components:

• Admissions Standards: student quality and diversity, including acceptance rates, academic performance and representation of first-generation and underrepresented students
• Academic Experience: how effectively a business school challenges and supports students, based on alumni feedback and major learning experiences
• Career Outcomes: how graduates perform in the job market, including internships, employment rates, and starting salaries

The rankings include 110 business schools and are designed to provide a comprehensive view of undergraduate business education in the United States.

51±ŹÁÏÍű Poets&Quants

Poets&Quants is led by Editor-in-Chief John Byrne, founder of C-Change Media and former executive editor of Bloomberg Businessweek, Businessweek.com and Fast Company. Byrne originated the first regularly published rankings of business schools in 1988 and has authored several business school guidebooks.

The conversation was moderated by Jose Cerecedo Lopez, assistant professor of management and entrepreneurship in the Martha and Spencer Love School of Business.

Niven, who majored in English while at 51±ŹÁÏÍű, now leads the Greensboro-based, family-owned restaurant company founded in 1966 that operates locations across North Carolina and Virginia.

Niven said her path to the restaurant industry was not a straight one. She originally planned to attend law school, but an unexpected opportunity to help rebuild a struggling restaurant changed her perspective.

“A family friend bought a defunct restaurant and asked me to help get it running again,” Niven said. “I quickly realized it was like a mini-MBA. There was nothing she didn’t trust me with. I was running operations, figuring out inventory and even helping with advertising.”

The experience gave Niven an inside look at nearly every part of the business. Within several years, the restaurant had become one of the top-performing locations in the brand.

That early opportunity helped launch her career in the restaurant industry. She later held leadership positions with brands including Krispy Kreme, Burger King and Quiznos before joining Biscuitville in 2011.

Niven said she quickly saw something different in the company’s values and culture.

“What stood out to me was the integrity of the leadership at Biscuitville,” she said. “They source their products locally, make everything from scratch and are committed to doing things the right way.”

That commitment to authenticity and long-term thinking continues to shape how Niven approaches leadership today.

“Culture comes first,” Niven said. “If you want to grow without losing what makes your company special, you have to start there.”

One of Niven’s proudest accomplishments has been helping define Biscuitville’s culture through a set of shared norms developed with employees across the company.

“Until you put your money where your mouth is on culture, you don’t really have a culture,” Niven said. “It only works when leaders are willing to uphold those values consistently.”

Niven also shared advice for students preparing to launch their careers.

“You don’t walk in the door and say, ‘trust me,’” she said. “Trust builds slowly through consistent decisions and actions over time.”

She also reflected on leading through the COVID-19 pandemic, a period that brought significant challenges across the restaurant industry.

“We didn’t know what was going to happen,” Niven said. “But we decided that if we went down, we were going to go down taking care of our team. That meant showing up for our employees and supporting them the best we could, even in the middle of so much uncertainty.”

As the event concluded, Niven encouraged students to think carefully about the organizations they choose to join.

“Interview companies more than they interview you,” she said. “Make sure their values align with yours.”

51±ŹÁÏÍű Lessons from Leaders

Launched in 2017 by Dean Emeritus Raghu Tadepalli, Lessons from Leaders brings senior executives to campus for open talks, small group discussions, and purposeful one-on-one networking that connects students with mentors. The program helps bridge classroom learning to real-world decision-making and strategy, and aims for every student to leave with a new contact and meaningful career insights.

The co-authored study, “,” published in Organization Management Journal, examines how diversity climates, both within the organization and in the geographical community, influence employees’ ability to think creatively and implement new ideas.

Singh’s research treats diversity as a strategic resource, not a surface-level initiative. Grounded in the Conservation of Resources theory, it argues that inclusion strengthens employees’ sense of meaning at work, which in turn boosts innovation.

Key Findings

• Employees who perceive their organization as supportive and inclusive may be more likely to feel their work is meaningful.
• Innovation isn’t shaped by the workplace alone. The study explores a “community-to-work spillover” effect, examining whether inclusive communities, in addition to organizations, can positively influence how employees perform.
• The relationship between an organization’s diversity climate and meaningful work may be stronger for non-managerial employees. For employees without formal authority, inclusion may play a critical role in how they feel valued and purposeful.

“These findings give students an evidence-based way to think about leading in diverse workplaces,” said Singh. “In my organizational behavior and leadership courses, I use the research to show how inclusion, meaningful work and status dynamics can influence performance and innovation.”

The research was co-authored with Stephanie Solansky at Texas State University San Marcos, Donna Stringer at the University of Houston Clear Lake and Sarthak Singh at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

Singh, who joined Elon in 2017, teaches courses in organizational behavior, human resource management and business ethics. His research has appeared in leading journals including the Journal of Organizational Behavior, Journal of Business Ethics and Human Resource Management.

The conversation was moderated by Jack Ryan P’17, owner and principal at Jack Ryan Advisory and chair of the Martha and Spencer Love School of Business Board of Advisors.

O’Leary leads , an aerospace company developing a blended wing aircraft design aimed at rethinking what commercial aviation can be. In 2025, JetZero announced plans for a at Piedmont Triad International Airport in Greensboro, projected to create more than 14,500 jobs with an average wage above $89,000.

Ryan opened with a lightning round to introduce the person behind the title.

Favorite place as a kid? “Waterfalls.”
First job? “Paperboy.”
Best part of being a CEO? “Bringing a dream to reality.”
Worst part? “Resistance.”
One word for leadership? “Vision.”

That theme resurfaced as O’Leary reflected on his undergraduate years.

“I wrote my political science thesis that the media will be diffused by technology,” O’Leary said. “We will retreat into echo chambers where we get the information that will reinforce our faith quickly. I received a C-,” he said, because the professor noted there were no citations.

O’Leary credited his liberal arts education with preparing him to move across sectors, from education and sales to automotive, technology and aerospace.

“I’m a huge fan of liberal arts,” he said. “I think you all are making an incredibly wise decision coming to Elon.”

He told students that a broader education can make it easier to adapt when industries change.

That adaptability became critical when he transitioned from automotive leadership roles, including time at Tesla, into aerospace. He described immersing himself in the industry during JetZero’s early days, dedicating hours each morning to study and spending afternoons and evenings learning directly from seasoned engineers.

“I’d get a quad shot from Starbucks to power up, and from about 8:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m., I was deep in the matrix,” O’Leary said. “At 1:00 p.m., I’d get on the phone or on Zoom with some of the best aerodynamics experts and basically get a PhD in aerodynamics from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., then continue those conversations with experts on the West Coast. That was the first two years of JetZero.”

Throughout the conversation, O’Leary urged students to question assumptions.

“The first principles of business are not settling for, ‘This is the way things are always done,’” he said. “Have the audacity to question why.”

Students asked why JetZero chose Greensboro. O’Leary pointed to workforce potential, infrastructure and alignment of long-term vision across state and local leaders.

“We can’t underestimate the power of a vision,” he said.

He also encouraged students to expect setbacks and keep moving forward.

“Buckle up,” O’Leary told students. “You are going to fail at something, and you may as well embrace that.”

As the event concluded, he encouraged students to seek perspectives beyond their own.

“If you want to know the future and predict change for the market,” he said, “have diverse and oftentimes uncomfortable perspectives.”

51±ŹÁÏÍű Lessons from Leaders

Launched in 2017 by Dean Emeritus Raghu Tadepalli, Lessons from Leaders brings senior executives to campus for open talks, small-group roundtables and purposeful one-on-one networking that connects students with mentors. The program bridges classroom learning with real-world decision-making and aims for every student to leave with a new contact and an actionable career insight.

Suggs shares what he hopes to accomplish in his new role and how 51±ŹÁÏÍű students can benefit.

What was your most recent role with Toyota?

My most recent role was president of Toyota Battery Manufacturing North Carolina, where I led the startup and operations of Toyota’s first in-house battery manufacturing facility in North America, a $14 billion dollar investment. In this position, I was responsible for organizational development, talent cultivation and managing extensive manufacturing operations aligned with Toyota’s long-term electrification strategy.

How would you describe your career path?

My career path has been progressive leadership roles within manufacturing and operations, with a strong focus on people development, operational excellence and continuous improvement. Over time, I have had the opportunity to lead increasingly complex organizations and projects, culminating in launching and leading a transformational manufacturing facility.

I started on the shop floor, so I learned not only how to lead but also how to be brilliant at the basics. My eight years of military service also played a big part in shaping my leadership style and approach to teamwork.

What does serving as an Executive in Residence at the Martha and Spencer Love School of Business mean to you?

Serving as an Executive in Residence is a meaningful opportunity to share real-world leadership and innovative manufacturing experiences with students and to help them connect academic learning with practical applications. It also allows me to give back by mentoring, coaching and developing students as they think about their careers, leadership styles and professional goals.

What kinds of conversations and experiences do you hope to create for Elon students during your time on campus?

I hope to foster honest, engaging conversations about leadership, teamwork and decision making in complex organizations. I want students to gain insight into what it takes to lead large teams, manage uncertainty and balance technical, operational and human challenges in significant business settings.

What perspectives from your work in manufacturing and battery production are you most excited to share with Elon students?

Battery manufacturing is at the center of innovation, sustainability and global competitiveness. I am excited to share perspectives on building operations from the ground up, developing a skilled workforce, managing risks and leading through change, as well as how manufacturing plays a critical role in the future of mobility.

What advice would you offer students who are interested in leading teams or managing large, complex projects in their careers?

My advice is to put people first with passion, communicate clearly and stay curious. Strong leaders create environments where teams can succeed, learn from mistakes and continuously improve. It is also important to seek out challenges, be patient with your growth and remain adaptable as industries evolve.

Beyond your résumé, what should people know about you and what you enjoy outside of work?

Beyond my professional background, I value family, my wife, Janet, our six children and five grandchildren along with mentorship and lifelong learning. Outside of work, I enjoy playing golf. I have now played in all 50 states and on six continents, which helps keep me grounded and energized. I am also the on my life story, my golf journey and leadership.

Students may reach out to Suggs through . His contact information will be added to the next edition of the Love School of Business newsletter.